Substructure for railroad-crossings.



W. P. DAY.

SUBSTRUCTURE FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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Patented NOV. 21, 1916.

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W. P. DAY.

SUBSTRUCTURE FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 3,1916,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM'PA'TRICK DAY, or CLEVELAND, oHIo.

S'UIBSTRUGTUBE FOR RAILROAD-CROSSINGS.

' relates to improvements in that typeof subsirable.

structure or foundation which forms the subject-matter of Letters Patent 0f the United States No. 1,086,901, granted to me February 10, 19141.

The present invention has for its primary object an improved construction of device of this. character wherein the 'parts are so formed, arranged, and connected together that a foundat'ionwill be producedpossessing to a maximum degree the characteristics of strength and capability of withstanding the required service strainsfor a verylong time without repair or other attention of any character. 7' r A further object of the invention. is an improved crossing foundation comprising any desired number of units, according to the crossings to be supported, said units being composed of box-like steel members strongly connected together and filledwith preferably wooden blockswhereby a very light and yet strong structure-will be produced and one capable of well withstanding hard usage such as is always incidental to a railroad crossing, particularly on high-speed roads.

A still further object of. the invention is an improved crossing foundation or substructure that is so constructed that it may be easily made of standard stock and shipped, with the parts already assembled in com-.

plete condition for installation, where the crossing -is to be installed and supported,

and which will be so constructed that it may be easily supplied with ballast and the ballast readily tamped as required." ,And the invention alsoraims to generally improve structures of this characterso as to render them more useful and commercially de- With these and otherobjects in view, as

will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combi a- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N 0v. 21, 1916.

Application filed April 3, 1916. Serial No. 88,661.

tions of the parts that I shall hereinafter I fully describe and claim.

For a full: understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a substructure or foundation for crossings'embodying the prmclples and improvementsof my inventlon. Fig. 2 1s a detall sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the lined-4: of Fig. 1. F ig. 5 is a view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 1s a fragmentary perspective View.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designatedin all of the views of the accompanying drawings by like reference characters.

My improved substructure or foundation for railroad crossings may be composed of any desired number of units, according to v the particular requirements of theca'se, the

present embodiment illustrated being of a relatively simple character, and designed for use at a crossing where there are two interseotingsingle tracks, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this regard and that the principles involved herein, as well as the construction, arrange ment and combinations of the parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accom panying drawings, may be duplicated or amplified, as required, according to the 'number of intersecting tracks and the particular angle of intersection.

I have, in the present instance employed three units and for the purposes ofidentification, I have designated one of them A,

as a'whole, and the other two B and C respectively, the latter being substantially the loo same construction, except so far as the pro} portions of the parts are concerned, owing to the particular angle of intersection shown.

Describing, first, the unit designated A, it will be seen that it comprises two main box-like members 1, 7 extending longitudinally of the rails of that portion of the crossing which it is intended to directly support,

and each of said members is composed of an upper steel late 2 and a lower steel plate a and longitudinally extending channel beams trated in the drawings, and which are preferably creosoted with melted tar poured into all voids or cracks, and it will at once be apparent that by this construction and arrangement of the parts, the pound of the crossing of the substructure or foundation cannot bend down the top and bottom plates 2 and 3 and thus destroy the shape of the section. The compressive strength of the wood filler is much greater than any load that can come upon it, and the foundation will remain intact until the steel box or casing l is rusted to pieces or until the creosoted blocks become decayed which in either event would be a sufficient time to outwear several crossings placed on and supported by it. The load on the block filler is transferred through the rivets fastening the bottom plate to the channel beams 4 and into the section as a whole, acting as a girder which is strong enough to carry the heaviest 7 wheel loads, even if a span of several feet of the bottom of the foundation is not resting upon ballast. The members 1 are joined to- I gether at their ends in spaced relation to each other, by means of transverse channel beams 9, the top and bottom flanges of which are riveted to, the top and bottom plates 2 and 3 at the projecting end 'portions thereof, and the webs of these transverse channel beams 9 are riveted to corner angles 10 which in turn are riveted to the webs of the longitudinal channel beams 4 that form the longitudinal vertical sides of the box-like casings or members 1. In order to assist in supporting those portions of the crossing (here designated D as a whole), that extend transversely ofthe members 1, the unit A is provided intermediate of its ends with a pair of box-like casings or members 1 similar to the casin s or members 1 hereinbefore described, and connected at their ends to the adjoining portions of the main or longitudinal members 1 by means of corner angles 11 riveted theretoand to the adjoining longitudinal beams 4 as best illustrated in Fig. 1.

To further support the crossing, the units B and C are provided. These, like the unit A, are each composed of members that are designated 1, comprisingboX-like casings of steel plates and channelbeams riveted together, and filling blocks, like the members 1 and 1' hereinbefore' describechsaid members 1 being connected at their outer ends in spaced relation to each other by means of transversely extending beams 9 like the beams 9. At their inner ends-that is, at those ends of the members 1 that lie contiguous to the members 1, said members 1 are connected together by angle bars 12 that are connected to the top plates of said members by rivets, as shown, and that extend to the outer sides of said plates, whereas at the bottom of these members, the space between them is entirely'clear, as only short angle bars 12 are employed, whereby ballast can be tamped under and around the unit A from both sides of the casings or members 1 at this point. Preferably interior braces 13 are mounted within the members 1 at a point between the members 1' and the members 1, said braces consisting of relatively short sections of channel bars, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, secured in place by riveted cornerj pieces 14. 7

It frequently happens that it is necessary to take care of or compensate as it is called, for the differences in the height of the running rails of the track, and the adjoining ends of the crossing rails or arms, and when this occasion arises, the top plates terminate short of the sections. or members of which they form a part, and are spliced, as indicated at 15, by relatively short'plate sections and elevating linings 16, in connections with splice plates 17 at the joints, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. Y 7

While it is within the purview of this in vention to use fastenings of any desired character, to secure the crossing to the substructure or foundation, I prefer to use fastening devices such as are indicated at 18 and which form the subject-matter of a co pending application of even date herewith From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the operation of my improved crossing foundation or substructure will be apparent. In the practical use of the device, .all bolts and loose parts of fastenings are first removed and the crossing is placed in position upon the substructure or foundation. The cross ing arms are connected tothe running rails and the foundation is lifted up tight against the crossing and all fastening parts replaced, and secured in position with the bolts, the nuts of which should be drawn down tight against the lock washers. It is preferable that the old compacted ballast be disturbed as little as possible and smallsized crushed stone or the like tamped into.

a compact mass should be used for ballast. It will thus be seen that I have provided a very efficient, light and strong substructure or foundation for railroad crossings which may be very easily manufactured out of standard stock at a distance from the pla e of in t llat on n d y h p W such point in complete condition for installation; and it will further be seen that, owing to the construction and arrangement of the parts, the foundation will be very rigid and strong and capable of withstanding to a maximum degree the hard usage to which a railroad crossing is subjected, particularly on fast roads with heavy trafiic.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

WVhat is claimed, is:

1..In a substructure for railroad crossings, a unit composed of box-like side members connected together in spaced relation to each other, box-like members bridging the space between said side members and connected thereto, and blocks filling all of said members and inclosed thereby.

2. In a substructure for railroad crossings, a unit composed of box-like members arranged in spaced relation to each other and adapted to extend longitudinally of that portion of the crossing designed to be supported thereby and a filler in said members and consisting of a plurality of wooden blocks extending transversely of the members.

In a substructure for railroad crossings, a unit embodying box-like members composed of upper and lower metallic plates and channel beams intermediate of said plates and riveted thereto, fillers in said members, consisting of blocks arranged side by side and extending transversely of said members and housed in and by said plates and beams, and transversely extending beams closing the ends of said members and connected thereto and holding said members rigidly in spaced relation to each other.

4. In a substructure for railroad crossings, a unit composed of box-like metallic members with wooden block fillers, means for holding said members together in spaced side members, box-like cross members bridging the space between said side members and connected thereto, and cross braces mounted in the side members where the latter connect to the cross members.

6. In a substructure for railroad crossings, box-like members composed of upper and lower metallic plates, channel beams between said plates and riveted thereto, impregnated wooden blocks filling said members and-arranged side by side and extending transversely of said members, and cross beams connecting said members together in spaced relation to each other.

7. A substructure for railroad crossings comprising a plurality of units, one of said units being composed of box-like side members provided with wooden block fillers, and cross members bridging the space between said side members and connectedthereto and also being of box form with block fillers, and the other units being disposed upon opposite sides of the first named unit, each of the second named units being composed of box-like members having block fillers, beams connecting said second named members together in spaced relation to each other at I the outer ends of said second named members, and bars connecting said second named members together at their inner ends only at the top thereof, leaving spaces thereunder for the purpose of tamping ballast in and around the adjoining members of the first named unit.

In testimony whereof I aflix signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM PATRICK DAY.

Witnesses: V

LYMAN C. SHANE, THOMAS J. CLIFFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

